Dental sterilizer



May, 13, 1952 v. H. mm 2,596,219

DENTAL STERILIZER Filed Feb. 20, 1950 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ULTRA V/OLET IN VEN TUR.

M64414 JJZMZ, I

AUTOKNBS May 13, 1952 v. H. DIETZ DENTAL STERILIZER Fiied Feb. 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q&

VicZ'or/[Dz'etz INVENTOR.

BY JM HTTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 20, 1950 Z D w A H w l E A VN 1 M m A w MJ/Lu,

Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DENTAL STERILIZER Victor H. Dietz, Ypsilanti, Mich. Application February 20, 1950, Serial No. 145,237

8 Claims. 1

My invention relates to the sterilization of dental handpieces and their attached contraangle and inserted burrs or stones.

It is an object of my invention to provide a dental chair-side technic for substantially suppressing surface contaminants and maintaining the sterility of dental handpieces, their attached contra-angles and inserted burrs.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a sterilizing apparatus which may be positioned adjacent the dentists chair and into which the dental handpiece with its attached implements may be easily inserted and withdrawn for subjecting them to the germicidal rays of an electric lamp within the apparatus for the destruction of bacteria which may have accumulated on the instruments from use especially in a patients mouth.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a dental handpiece and attached instrument sterilizing apparatus which includes a cabinet having a sterilizing lamp mounted therein, a relatively large opening within the front of the cabinet through which may be inserted and withdrawn the handpiece, a slotted end joining with a slotted front and the front opening for receiving the handpiece, a holding element for retaining the handpiece within the cabinet so as to be subject to the lamps rays, a closure for the opening in the cabinet, a closure operator and a reflector within the cabinet for directing rays from the light onto the handpiece and any instruments attached thereto.

A yet still further object of my invention is to provide a sterilizing apparatus as immediately above described that is provided with a movable lamp, a foot pedal operator which is connected with the movable closure or door and the movable lamp so that movement of the foot pedal in one direction moves the closure to expose the front opening and moves the lamp away from the handpiece so that the handpiece may be inserted or withdrawn from the cabinet while movement of the foot pedal in the opposite direction closesexamples are given by way of illustration only and, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are not given by Way of limitation, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Reference will now be had to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the sterilizer apparatus showing the foot pedal attachment for operation of the door of the sterilizer;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1 as seen from the right hand side with a portion of the foot pedal housing broken away;

Figure 3 shows in enlarged detail the door mounting and pivotal operating means;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional detailed View along line 44 of Figure 1 showing the snap attachment for securing the front wall to the cabinet;

Figure 5 shows diagrammatically the wiring circuit for the electric sterilizing lamp and its starting means and power supply connection;

Figure 6 is a left hand end view of the modified form of sterilizer apparatus shown in. Figure 7 with a portion of the end wall broken away and the front of the cabinet and door installed;

Figure 7 is a front view with the front removed of a modified form of sterilizer;

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram of the circuit for supplying power to the multiple lamps of the sterilizer shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a front View of the modified form of sterilizer shown in Figure '7 including the front wall in position on the cabinet and the door shown swung in unison with the lamps to an open position;

Figure 10 is a right hand end view of the sterilizer shown in Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a detail enlarged view along lines ll-ll of Figure 9 showing the pivotal mounting for the door and a portion of the door operating linkage.

Throughout the several views like reference characters refer to similar parts.

Much has been done in the way of providing sterilization for the instruments used by the dentist. However, little has been done to provide means for sterilizing the dental handpiece or contra-angle to prevent direct and cross-infection from patient to patient. The dental handpiece or contra-angle is one of the instruments that is used by the dentist the most often and is perhaps cleansed the least. Burrs and mandrels, discs and stones are sterilized thoroughly before use. However, the chuck which holds them and which also enters the mouth, may be indiflerently cleansed. All too frequently it may be contaminated and may carry contamina tions from one patient to another. The dental handpiece and its attachments, as insidious inoculating devices, no doubt constitute an important public health problem. Unsterilized handpieces are dangerous, and their use cannot be condoned. It would appear that the handpiece is the sole surviving source for the transmission of infection in many dental offices.

My invention is therefore directed to a simple chair side procedure for substantially suppressing 7 surface contaminates or maintaining the sterility the door to be described. The cabinet l8 here shown is generally rectangular in shape and is provided with a removable front i3 which may be of a plastic material such as Bakelite, which acts as a barrier for any of the waves emanating from the germicidal lamp I4 mounted in the upper portion of the cabinet Hi. The front wall It is provided with a relatively large circular opening [5 which permits easy insertion and withdrawal of the handpiece by means of the hand of the operator.

The cabinet I0 is easily installed adjacent the dentists chair and is attached to the dental machine so that easy access is had for insertion and withdrawal of the handpiece between eachoperation. In the. right hand end wall It of the cabinet I 0 there isprovided a slot ll, see Fig. 2, which extends, midway from the center of the end wall to the front of the cabinet. A suitable end plate l8 also slotted in conformity with the slot I1 is attached to. the end wall it by means of rivets l9. A spring retaining clip is attachedas by welding to the end plate 18 which has an inturned flange indicated at 2i in Figure 1. The front panel I3.is slotted as indicated at 22 in Figure 1 so as to closely fit over the projecting portions of the resilient clip 20. This clip 20 is provided with acircular portion 20. which serves as a means for supporting the inserted dental handpiece in a position within thev cabinet parallel to the front wall l3 and below the elongated germicidal lamp 7 l4. Mounted within the cabinet [0 is a reflector generally indicated at 23 which provides a radiation chamber within the cabinet for the handpiece. This mirror is, of Alzak aluminum and is provided with an, anodized surface. The reflector 23 is attached to the cabinet at its upper portion by means of rivets 24 and 25 and is shaped along its bottom portion 26 to conform to the circular opening of the aperture I5, within the front Wall of the cabinet. The upper left corner of the reflector 23 extends inwardly and horizontally at 21 and then upwardly vertically at 28 to join the top portion 29 which extends horizontally and parallel to the upper'end of the cabinet [9. This offset in the reflector in the upper left hand corner is for the, purpose of clearing the operating mechanism which pivotally mounts the door to be described hereinafter. The back wall of the mirror is best shown at 23 in Figure 2 and extends vertically midway the depth of cabinet I0.

Pivotally mounted on the outside of the front Wall I3 is a door 30 which is circular in shape except for the triangular protuberance indicated at 3| in the upper left hand portion of Figure 1 in which triangular portion (ii the pivotal mounting means best shown in Figure 3 is attached. This door may be of transparent plastic material which not only enhances the appearance of the device but enables the operator to see whether or not the contra-angle is attached and what type of burr or stone was last placed therein when the handpiece is inserted within the cabinet. This door 30 also serves as a barrier for the rays emanating from the germicidal lamp l4 mounted within the cabinet within the confines of the mirror 23.

Referring to Figure 3, a portion of the rear wall of the cabinet H1 is indicated at 32 and has attached to its inner face a bearing 33 within which is supported the rear end of a pivot shaft 34 which extends across the cabinet at the upper left hand corner. Pivot shaft 3 5 is provided with a square shank 35 at its forward end for receiving the door 3t which is provided with a square aperture as at 36. A screw 31 and a washer 38 are attached to the outer end of the pivot shaft 3 to secure the door 35 in place. Rigidly attached to the pivot shaft 34 is a transversely extending lever 39 having an inturned end 40 apertured at 4! to receive the upper end of the spring 42 which tends to bias the door towards its open position, however, the weight of the door is sufficient to act against the spring 42 to permit the door to close when the foot pedal to be described is released. The lower end'of spring $2 is secured to a lug 42 formed on the lower portion of the rear wall of the cabinet, see Figure 2. The other end of lever 39 is apertured to receive a pivot pin 43 which provides a pivotal attachment for a bifurcated end 44 on the upper end of the operating rod 65. Operating rod 45 extends downward through the conduit l2 at the base of the cabinet l6 on into the foot pedal housing ll.

Conduit i2 is attached to the bottom side 12 of the cabinet It as indicated generally at 46 by means'of nuts M and 48 threadedly engaged on the upper threaded end of conduit I2 whereby the cabinet I0 is securely fastened to the conduit 12. The lower end of the conduit l2 at 49 is similarly attached to thefoot' pedal housing ll.

The foot pedal housing H best shown in Figures 1 and 2 is provided with a base portion 50 and a cover portion 5| secured by screws 5| t0. the base portion. Extending upwardly from the base portion 50 is a lug 52 which is apertured at its upper end to receive a pivot pin 53. A foot pedal 54 is provided with spaced depending lug portions 55-- 55 intermediate its ends and. these are apertured to receive the pivot pin 53 thereby securing the foot pedal in foot pedal housing H. where it extends outwardly through the aperture 5! in the front wall of the cover 51'. The outer, end of footirpedal 54 is provided with a tread portion 54 against which the toe of the operator may press and the inner end ofthe pedal 54: is provided with a depending lug 56 which is apertured to receive the lower right angle bent portion 51 of the operating rod 45. The end of the, operating rod as at 51 is secured by means of a cotter pin indicated at 58 which passes throughan aperture in the end thereof. Also-provided on the housing II is a lock or latch generally indicated at 98 which is in the form of a rod having a vertically extending portion BI and a right angle portion 62 the latter of which when rotated by means of the attached knob 83 extends the portion 62 underneath the inner end of the foot pedal 50 when same is raised by stepping on the tread 54 whereby the foot pedal is locked in its depressed position to hold the door 30 in full open position. Lock 80 is held in place within the top of housing II by means of a washer 63 and a cotter pin as indicated at 84 which passes through an aperture in the upright portion SI of the latch.

Referring again to Figure 1, the germicidal lamp I4 is mounted in a socket 65 which is riveted to the reflector portion 28 by means of rivets 88. i

In Figure 5 there is shown the wiring diagram for supplying power to the lamp I4. A conventional starting switch is indicated at 61 which insets in the circuit a ballast 60 for starting the lamp I l. A conventional snap switch is indicated at 88 for closing the circuit to the lamp I4 from the plug 89 which is connected with a normal 110 volt supply (not shown). Referring to Figure 2, the push button switch 61 is shown mounted in a housing I which is attached to the end of the cabinet I8 by means of rivets I I. The on and off switch for the lamp I4 is in the form of a toggle switch 88 which is also attached to the housing I8.

In Figure 4 there is shown a detail of the attachment of the front wall I3 to the cabinet III. The lower wall of the cabinet is indicated at I2 and is provided at its front end with an upturned flange I3 which is apertured at I4 to receive a resilient fastener I5 anchored at I6 in the removable front wall I3. This arrangement permits the front wall I3 to be easily snapped on and off from the cabinet I8 after the door is removed.

Referring to Figure 7 there is shown in modified form a sterilizing apparatus wherein a movable lamp generally indicated at 80 is provided to swing in unison with the door or closure here shown at 8| and also in Figures 6, 9 and 10. A cabinet is generally indicated at 82 and is of a shape slightly longer than the cabinet I0 shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Cabinet 82 is provided with a front wall 83 which is attached similar to the front wall I3 in Figure l and, therefore, is not shown in detail. Front wall 83 is provided with a relatively large circular opening as indicated at 84 in Figure 9, through which may be inserted the hand of the operator and the dental handpiece 85 as indicated in Figure 7. Front wall 83 is also provided with a slot at 84 which extends from the right hand side of aperture 84 to the right hand edge of wall 83 and there joins with a slot 86 provided in the side wall 81 of the cabinet 82. A slotted cover plate 88 conforming with the slot in the end wall is attached to the end wall 81 by means of rivets 89 and permits the insertion and withdrawal of the handpiece 89 shown in Figure '7. This cover plate 88 is provided with a right angle bent front portion 98 best shown in Figure 7 and serves as a means for attaching as by welding a spring clip device 9I having a circular inner portion 92 within which rests the handpiece 85.

Referring to Figure 11, there is shown in detail the portion of the front wall 83 which is apertured at 93 to receive a pivot shaft 94 having an outer squared end 95 to receive the door 8| which 6 is securely attached by means of ascrew 96 and a washer 91.

Referring to Figure 6, the cabinet 82 has attached to the inner face of its rear wall 82' a boss I which supports a pivot shaft IOI. A socket base I82 within which the plurality of lamps 88', 80" and 80" are mounted is provided with a lug I03 which is apertured at I04 to fit over the pivot shaft I 0| shown in Figure 6. Rigidly attached to lug I03 is a second lug I05. The socket is held in place on the pivot shaft I8I by mean of a screw I08 threaded into the outer end of shaft I0I.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7 there is shown rigidly securedto shaft 94 for operating the door a lever I81 which receives a pivot screw I08 at its outer end and serves to connect the connecting link I89 to the lever I01 in spaced relationship as shown in Figure 6. The lower end of link I89 is pivotally connected to the outer end of lug I by means of a pivot screw 0 which passes through a spacer I04, see Figure 6, interposed between lug I04 and lever I09. Thus, the cluster of lamps indicated at 80 and the closure or door 8| operate in unison.

The means for operating door 8| and lamps 80 to rotate same is the pivot lever III which is pivoted by a pivot post 2 positioned intermediate its ends and secured to the inner face of outer wall 83. Pivot lever III is bifurcated at its right hand end II3, see Figure '7, so as to engage with the pivot screw I08 and extends in between the spaced links I81 and I09 as shown in Figure 6. The left hand end of pivot lever II I is pivotally connected by a pivot screw 4 to a fitting 5 attached to the upper end IIB of the operating rod III which corresponds to the operating rod 45 extending to the foot pedal shown in Figure 1. Operating rod I I1 is offset at 6', see Figure 6, so that the conduit I2 may be attached towards the rear of the cabinet 82. It is to be noted that the bifurcated end 3 of the lever I I I slidably engages with the pivot screw I08 and when pedal rod II! is moved upward lever I I I rotates clockwise so as to move the pivot screw I08 in a counterclockwise arc and thereby rotates link I01 about its pivot 94 and lug I05 about its pivot I0| in a counterclockwise direction so as to rotate the lamp cluster 80 and the door 8| also in a counterclockwise direction. This action permits the door 8| to uncover the front aperture 84 and the lamp cluster 80 to move away from the handpiece 85 with its attached contraangle 85' and inserted burr 85". This action permits the placement of the hand of the operator within the aperture 84 to grasp the handpiece 85 and remove it from the cabinet 82 where it has been held therein by the clip portion 92 in a position parallel to the plane containing the front panel ,83.

In Figure 8 there is shown a circuit diagram including the electric lamps 80, 80", 80, connected in parallel to a power supply indicated at [I8 through a cut off switch I I9 and a starter switch I20 connecting with a ballast I2| for purposes of starting the ignition of the lamps. The cut off switch H9 is shown as a toggle switch mounted on the side wall 81 of the cabinet in Figure 10 and the switch I20 is shown as a push button switch also mounted in a housing adjacent the toggle switch II9 on the end 81 of the cabinet 82.

In the modified form of sterilizer shown in Figures 6-11 the reflector is shown generally at H8. The reflector H8 is mounted in the cabinet 82 by being attached by rivets I19 pass ing through the top I20 of the cabinet. Suitable spacers I2I through which therivets I I9 pass space th upper side I22 of the reflector from the inner face of the top I29. The reflector is provided with a rear wall I23, a right hand end wall I24, 3. bottom wall I25 and a'left hand end wall I26. Right hand endwall I24 is slotted at I21 to permit insertion and withdrawal of the handpiece 85, see Figure 7. The left hand end wall I26 is slotted at I28 to permit free swinging movement of the left hand end of lever I I I which extends therethrough.

The ballast IZI is shown in Figure '7 as mounted in the'lower right hand lower corner of the cabinet'82 and is connected in circuit as shown in Figure 8 as described heretofore.

In the process of operating the germicidal lamps which may be ultra-violet, mercury arc, or low pressure mercury vapor arc lamps whose rays have germ destroying properties certain rays are also produced which have a wave length V which ionizes the atmosphere oxygen to produce ozone. The ozone exerts an oxidizing or masking effect upon the oil or grease used in lubricating the handpiece and thereby it is rendered completely non-odorous. By looking the door open and with the lamps ignited the apparatus may be used to deodorize the oilice.

The opening and closing of the door of the apparatus is of no consequence as to the possibility of bacterial contamination from the air. Air-borne bacteria are quite dry and unprotected, and as such are immediately destroyed upon being waited into an ultra-violet ray stream.

The dental sterilizer according to my invention is easily installed adjacent the dentist's chair and provides a means of suppressing contamination before and during use of the handpiece and contra-angle on a patient. The apparatus is simple to use in any dental procedure and constitutes not the slightest encumbrance thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. A'st erilizing apparatus for a dental handpiece and contra-angle comprising a cabinet having. a relatively large opening in its front wall for insertion. and'withdrawal of said handpiece and contra-angle, a retaining means for the handpiece in a side Wall of the cabinet adjacent said front wall opening adapted to engage and. hold the inserted handpiece, a movable closure for said front wall opening, operating means for said movable closure whereby said closure is moved to close the front wall opening and to expose said front wall opening, a germicidal radiation source mounted for movement in said cabinet adjacent said inserted handpiece and contra-angle, means for moving said movably mounted germicidal radiation source connected with said closure operating means whereby actuation of said closure operating means to expose said front wall moves said germicidal radiation source away from said handpiece and attached contra-angle and actuation of said closure operating means to close the front wall opening moves said germicidal radiation source toward and adjacent to the handpiece and contra-angle.

2. A sterilizing apparatus of the character described in claim 1 including a reflector positioned within the cabinet whereby rays from the germicidal radiation source are made to fall 01mins handpiece and contra-angle.

3. A sterilizing apparatus for a dental hahdpiece and'contra-angle comprising in combination a cabinet having a relatively large opening in its front'wall for insertion and withdrawal of said handpiece and contra-angle, said relatively large opening being connected by a slotted opening in the same front Wall with a slotted opening in an adjacent side wall of said cabinet for insertion and withdrawal of the handpiece, a retaining means for the handpiece attached to the cabinet adjacent said side slot opening for retaining the handpiece inside the cabinet substantially parallel to the plane containing the front wall and front wall opening, a movable closure for the front wall opening attached to said cabinet, means connected with said closure for moving it to uncover and cover said front wall opening, a germicidal radiation source disposed in the cabinet whereby rays therefrom may fall on the handpiece and contra-angle, electrical power means for said germicidal radiation source and a switch for turning on and off said power means.

4. A sterilizing apparatus of the character described in claim 3 wherein said closure operating means includes a pivotal mounting for the closure attached to the cabinet, a foot pedal base below thecabinet, a foot pedal pivotally mounted in said base, a rod pivotally connecting the foot pedal and the pivotal mounting for the closure whereby movement of the foot pedal in one direction.

moves the closure to open position and movement of the foot pedal in the reverse direction allows said closure to move to a closing position.

' 5. A sterilizing apparatus of the character described in claim a including a lock connected with said closure operating means for locking the clohandpiece attached to the cabinet adjacent the side slot for holding the handpiece in substantial parallel alignment with the plane containing the front wall and front wall opening, a reflector in the cabinet encompassing said inserted handpiece and contra-angle'except on its side toward the front wall opening and the area of said end wall slot, a movable closure attached to the cabinet for the cabinet front wall opening, germicidal radiation source mounted for movement within said cabinet adjacent the inserted handpiece and contra-angle, operating means for moving said closure and germicidal radiation source in unison whereby movement of the closure'to expose the front wall opening moves the lamp away from the handpiece and contra-angle to permit removal of the handpiece and contra-angle from the cabinet and movement of the closure to close the front wall opening moves the germicidal radiation source toward the handpiece and contraangle which has been inserted within the cabinet.

7. A sterilizing apparatus of the character described in claim 6 wherein the operating means for the movable closure and movable germicidal radiation source include a pivotal mounting within the cabinet for the closure, a pivotal connecting said foot pedal and said link whereby movement of the foot pedal in one direction pivots the closure to expose the front opening of the cabinet and moves the germicidal radiation source away from the handpiece and contra-angle and movement of the foot pedal in the other direction moves the closure and germicidal radiation source in the opposite direction.

8. A sterilizing apparatus for a dental handpiece and contra-angle comprising a cabinet having an opening in a wall thereof to permit insertion and withdrawal of said dental handpiece and contra-angle, means for supporting said dental handpiece and contra-angle in said cabinet adjacent said opening, a plurality of germicidal producing radiation sources mounted for movement in said cabinet and disposed adjacent said dental handpiece and contra-angle, at least one of said radiation sources being disposed between said dental handpiece and contra-angle and said opening and means for moving said movable mounted radiation sources from said position wherein said radiation sources are disposed adjacent said dental handpiece and contra-angle with at least one of said radiation sources being interposed between said dental handpiece and contraangle and said cabinet opening to a location within said cabinet wherein said radiation sources are disposed in a position remote from said dental handpiece and contra-angle from said dental handpiece and contra-angle whereby said dental handpiece and contra-angle may be withdrawn from said cabinet through said opening therein.

VICTOR H. DIETZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 20 2,041,682 Adrian May 26, 1936 2,212,330 Thomas Aug. 20, 1940 2,443,446 Ellner June 23, 1944 

